54 WINTER/SPRING 2016 MARIN AT HOME
Designer Mead Quin simplified the material palette throughout
the house to better highlight the view. The kitchen’s sitting area
includes neutral slipper chairs, a petrified wood stool and this
custom oak bar cabinet. The breakfast nook in the kitchen offers
a sunny place for coffee at the demilune table under a pendant
from Y Lighting.

DRIVING UP THE TWISTING ROADS

behind San Anselmo’s theological seminary, you feel like
you are headed to a remote and rustic cabin. But despite
the craggy live oak trees and towering evergreens, this particular destination — a newly remodeled residence — is
anything but rustic. Instead, the glossy blue door of the
shingle-sided home opens to a spare two-story white space
stepping down the hillside and framing spectacular views
all the way across the bay.

When her clients asked Mead Quin to give their new home
a modern overhaul, the Oakland-based designer’s main goal
was to balance the drama of these views with a quiet simplicity throughout the interior.

“We did everything we could to draw the eye toward theview,” says Quin. “We wanted a calm and peaceful expe-rience. You appreciate the views differently when there’snothing getting in the way.”The house, though relatively new, had some of thatexpected rustic style — heavy timber trim, wide-plank oakflooring, traditional wrought iron fixtures. The first stepwas removing the trim plus the stone fireplace and paintingeverything white, specifically Benjamin Moore’s DecoratorWhite. The floors were stained darker and the rocky fireplacesurround was swapped out for a smooth horizontal slab ofBlue Savoy marble.

SA NA NSELMOAERIE

A YOUNG FAMILY ASKED DESIGNERMEAD QUIN TO GIVE THEIRNEW HOME A MODERN UPDATETHAT WOULD FEEL PRISTINEWITHOUT BEING PRECIOUS.